ONALASKA FIRST CHURCH OF GOD

"Where Your Experience In Christ, Makes You A Member"

133 3rd Avenue,  P.O. Box 245,  Onalaska,  Washington  98570     (360) 978-4161      FAX (360) 978-6941  
info(at)onalaskachurchofgod(dot)com

 

 

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SERMONS FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER 2009

DECEMBER 6, 2009 

“GOING OUT ON A LIMB” 

SCRIPTURE READING: Luke 19:1-10 

SCRIPTURE TEXT: Luke 19:9 

    And Jesus said unto him, “This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.” 

INTRO: There are many who wish to destroy the true meaning of Christmas. 

   The true meaning of Christmas is often hidden among the decorations, bright lights, gifts, and Santa Claus.  

   What is this meaning of Christmas people want to destroy? 

   The true meaning of Christmas if found in the story of Zacchaeus. 

   The true meaning of Christmas is that the thrice holy God came to earth to redeem sinful man. 

John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.  

I. WHO WAS ZACCHAEUS? 

NOTE: Zacchaeus is a type of sinful man. 

   A. ZACCHAEUS WAS A JEW. 

NOTE: Man was created to have fellowship with God but man left his perfect state and became sinful. 

   The Jews are God chosen people but Zacchaeus left the Jewish faith to seek riches and power. 

  1. Zacchaeus was a traitor to the Jewish people.

 
NOTE: He would have been ostracized from Jewish society and all religious privileges. 

   He served the Roman government that held Judea in bondage. 

   Just as fallen man is held in the bondage of Satan & sin. 

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;  

  1. He was a tax collector.

 

NOTE: He was a chief tax collector. 

   He sought money and power. 

1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.  

   Many Christians have fallen into the love of money trap. 

  1. He was short of stature.

 

NOTE: Not only was he looked down upon because of his occupation but also because of his physical being. 

  1. He was rich but not content.

 

Luke 18:24-27 And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!  For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.  And they that heard it said, “Who then can be saved?”  And he said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”  

NOTE: How often we see this in the world today. 

II. HE SOUGHT TO SEE JESUS. 

NOTE: God has created in man a God shape box and only God can fill that box and bring satisfaction. 

    1.  How had he heard about Jesus? 

NOTE: How do those who do not enter a church hear about Jesus? 

    • Through the testimonies of others.

    • Through Matthew

 NOTE: Matthew was also a tax collector, is it possible that he told Zacchaeus about Jesus and what He had done for him? 

    2.  He sought to see Jesus. 

NOTE: What was it that caused Zacchaeus to seek Jesus? 

   If Matthew was accepted by Jesus maybe Jesus would accept him. 

    • He was kept from seeing Jesus by the crowd that surrounded Jesus.

    • He was kept from seeing Jesus by his physical limitations.

 

    3.  He refused to be denied. 

    • He ran ahead.

    • He climbed a tree.

 

NOTE: He went out on a limb to see Jesus.  

   He was willing to suffer humiliation in order to see Jesus. 

   Are we willing to climb out on a limb to witness for Jesus? 

III. JESUS SAW ZACCHAEUS. 

NOTE: Jesus sees all those who seek Him. 

2 Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.  

1 Peter 3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.  

    1.  Jesus looked up at Zacchaeus. 

NOTE: I wonder what went through the mind of Zacchaeus when Jesus stopped and looked up at him. 

    2. Jesus invited Himself to Zacchaeus’ house. 

NOTE: Jesus seeks to enter every heart that seeks Him. 

Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.  

    3. Zacchaeus was a changed man when Jesus left his home. 

NOTE: God had touched his heart and his wallet.  

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.  

DECEMBER 20 

“YOU CAN’T HAVE ONE WITHOUT THE OTHER” 

SCRIPTURE READING: ISAIAH 9:1-7 

SCRIPTURE TEXT: Isaiah 9:6  

    For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.  
NOTE: The celebration of Christmas season has many different aspects. 

  • There are those who refuse to celebrate anything about the Christmas season.

  • There are those who will celebrate the Christmas season but will not celebrate Christmas.

  • There are those who will celebrate Christmas but only as a nice story to be told to children.

  • There are those who will celebrate Christmas but only to a certain extent.

 

NOTE: There are those who will be celebrating the cradle never thinking of the cross. 

  • We cannot celebrate Christmas with the child born without the Son given.

  • We cannot celebrate Christmas with the cradle without the cross.

  • We cannot celebrate the stable without the grave.

  • We cannot celebrate the virgin birth without the resurrection.

 

   We see in our Scripture reading that Judea was facing the coming judgment of God because their unfaithfulness to God. 

   Everything around them was darkness and doom, yet God said that He was going to sent them light; a light that would lead them out of their darkness. 

    We are like Judea, dwelling in the darkness of sin, but God has promised us light. 

   This is the Christmas story; the gift God has provided to bring us from darkness unto living light.

   The true meaning of Christmas is found in our text. 

   “Unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given.” 

   There are three things we want to consider this morning: 

  1. A child is born.

  2. A Son is given.

  3. Unto us.

 

I. A CHILD IS BORN. 

Matthew 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.  

NOTE: For many this is all that Christmas means to them. 

   But what does it mean to a true Believer that a child is born? 

  1. THRICE HOLY GOD TOOK ON HUMAN FORM AND NATURE.

 

NOTE: This means that the Creator became like His creation in every aspect. 

   Too often we super spiritualize the childhood of Jesus. 

    • Have you ever pictured Jesus with a bloody nose?

    • Was He ever teased and picked on?

    • Did He stumbled and fall down?

    • Was He ever falsely accused of doing something wrong?

 

   Many of us have suffered these things, why not Jesus? 

  1. AS A CHILD BORN HE WAS ABLE TO EXPERIENCE WHAT WE EXPERIENCE.

 

Hebrews 2:16-18 (MsgB) It's obvious, of course, that He didn't go to all this trouble for angels. It was for people like us, children of Abraham. That's why He had to enter into every detail of human life. Then, when He came before God as high priest to get rid of the people's sins, He would have already experienced it all Himself—all the pain, all the testing—and would be able to help where help was needed.  

  1. AS A CHILD BORN HE WAS ABLE TO PAY THE PENALTY FOR OUR SIN.

NOTE: Jesus was born a child that He might die. 

Ezekiel 18:4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.  

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.  

2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.  

II. A SON IS GIVEN. 

NOTE: Jesus was a Son given that we might live. 

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  

2 Corinthians 9:15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.  

Romans 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?  

2 Corinthians5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.  

III. UNTO US. 

NOTE: This Christmas gift is for us, what have we done, or what are we doing with the Gift that God has given to us? 

   We cannot be a receiver without becoming a giver. 

A person who does not have the spirit of giving has not received the gift of Christmas.

 

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